Iran, Belarus Strengthen Defense Ties Amid Global Concerns

Iran and Belarus signed a defense cooperation deal, prompting the Iranian Armed Forces' General Staff to stress the importance of boosting mutual “defense ties”.

During a meeting with Viktor Gennadievich Khrenin, the Minister of Defense of Belarus, Mohammad Bagheri emphasized that global power shifts necessitate expanding security and military relations between Iran and Belarus.

The two sides also discussed the establishment of a joint commission for military cooperation.

Earlier, on Monday, Minister Khrenin signed a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation with Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, the Iranian Defense Minister, in Tehran.

Details of the agreement have not been disclosed by the authorities of either nation. However, the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, published a report indicating Belarus' involvement in the establishment of an Iranian drone manufacturing plant in the south, specifically in the Gomel region.

Iran has faced extensive international criticism for supplying hundreds of Shahed-type kamikaze drones to Russia, reportedly used to target civilian infrastructure and residential areas in Ukraine. Additionally, American intelligence agencies have raised concerns about the construction of a drone factory in Russia with the assistance of the Islamic Republic.

Iran has supplied hundreds of drones to Russia since mid-2022, angering the United States and its key European allies who have imposed sanctions on a host of companies and individuals involved in their production and shipment to Russia.

Belarus is a key ally of Russia in its actions in Ukraine and a vital base for a portion of the Russian army and military mercenaries from the Wagner Group.